Class Schedule 

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Online discussion

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Other courses taught by Guntis Smidchens

Class meets Monday thru Thursday, 9:30-10:20, Bagley Hall 154

Course Description 

Folklore (proverbs, riddles, songs, stories, beliefs, customs, folk craft and folk art) is a window into a group's worldview.  This  course will survey the different genres of folklore and kinds of groups which maintain folklore traditions. A  variety of theories and methods applied in folklore studies during the past two centuries will be introduced  in readings and lectures.  

Course Objectives

• Learn some “classic” folklore examples: variants of legends, folktales and songs in Northern Europe and America.  
• Follow two leading folklorists – Richard Dorson and Henry Glassie— and learn their fieldwork methods as they write ethnographic descriptions of people and traditions.
• Engage and critique a variety of folklore interpretations (“survivalist,” historic-geographic, functional, interpretive, culture brokering, etc.)
• Learn how to formulate your own, ethnographically based interpretations of folklore.  

Grades 

• Class discussion (face-to-face and online) 25%
• Two midterm exams and one final exam, 25% each
   
• Optional research paper (may replace one of the above): 25%

Required Readings 

	R. Dorson, Bloodstoppers and Bearwalkers (at UW Bookstore)
	H. Glassie, All Silver and No Brass (at UW Bookstore)
	Additional required readings include websites and selected articles as listed in the Lecture Schedule.

 Last Updated: 
10/07/2009